DE69623351T2 - SHUTTER, DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOW AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING THE SHUTTER - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a blind structure for a double glazed sealed window unit and, more particularly, to an alignment element for the drive shaft of a blind structure.

State of the art

It is widely known that a double-glazed window is very beneficial due to its efficient thermal insulation. This is due to the fact that a layer of air is trapped between the two panes of glass. It goes without saying that the double-glazed window unit must be sealed, otherwise it would lose its special insulating properties.

Blinds are often used in conjunction with window structures because they can be continuously adjusted between a first and a second position that allows most of the light to pass through the window or blocks most of it, while providing relatively high aesthetic appeal and being inexpensive.

It is known to incorporate a blind structure into a double glazed window unit so that the slats of the blind are located between the glass panes. The slats also allow for the presence of a layer of air between the glass panes so that the window unit does not lose its insulating properties provided it is properly sealed. One of the main advantages of such a structure is that both the slats and the window form a single, integral structure, which subsequently simplifies the handling of the structure.

U.S. Patent 3,702,040 issued in 1972 to Fernand Roy (hereinafter referred to as the '040 patent) shows a typical blind structure for a double glazed window unit. The window unit 1 comprises a peripheral frame 3, 4 which spaced the glass panes 2 apart in parallel alignment and a plurality of stub shafts 10, 11 which are axially aligned in pairs and into which the slats 9 are engaged or held parallel to one another. On one side of the window unit and within the frame, the stub shafts have an enlarged diameter 19 and outwardly projecting pins 20 which are inserted into complementary openings 21 in an elongated vertical operating rod 22. When the operating rod 22 is raised or lowered it rotates the pins 20, causing reciprocal movement of the stub shafts 11 and the slats 9. This allows the user to adjust the slats 9 as desired, ie, anywhere between a closed, overlapping position in which the blind structure blocks most of the light, and an open, spaced position in which the blind structure allows most of the light to pass through. An external gear wheel 42 allows an operator to raise or lower the operating rod and thus simultaneously rotate the slats to the desired angle.

There are three main problems associated with such structures. The first problem is that the control mechanism, such as the gear wheel 42 of the '040 patent, is located outside the window unit. It therefore requires additional installation space around the window, such as a hole in the wall adjacent to the window for the housing of the wheel. This is undesirable because conventional window openings cannot be used without modification to accommodate such a window-blind assembly, which significantly complicates the installation of the assembly. The second problem is that because of the moving parts connecting the control mechanism to the operating mechanism, it is difficult if not impossible to seal the window unit perfectly. The double glazed window unit therefore loses some of its efficiency due to the leak in its insulation. The third problem relates to the fact that it is very difficult to access the blind structure once the window unit is sealed and installed. However, this problem only arises if it is necessary to access the blind structure: some parts, such as moving parts, are vulnerable to destruction and is not very securely installed in the prior art. In fact, the drive shaft connecting the drive means (the manually operated gears 40 to 42 of the '040 patent) to the actuating means (the actuating rod 22 of the '040 patent) is prone to loosening its connection to the actuating means because it is held at both ends by two moving parts, namely the drive means and the actuating means. If there is a problem with the blind structure, repair is very costly.

European Patent 345 007, published as an application on 6 December 1989 in the name of Hunter Douglas Industries B.V., shows a combination of a blind structure (and in combination a blind structure and a double glazed window unit) for use in a double glazed window unit. The combination consists of:

a) two spaced-apart glass panes 20, 22;

b) a window frame 10 for spacing the glass panes (frame elements 12, 14, 16, 18) and corner elements;

c) a plurality of lamella elements 30;

d) switchable drive means 34 having a drive shaft arranged parallel to and adjacent to one of the peripheral channel elements of the window frame;

e) operating means 48; and

f) an alignment element 44.

Objectives of the invention

It is the main aim of the invention to provide a blind structure that can be integrated into a double-glazed, sealed window unit, with the control mechanism located within the frame of the window structure to form an integral unit of standard shape.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to the combination of a blind structure and a multi-glazed window unit, the window unit comprising:

(a) two spaced-apart glass panes and

b) a window frame by which the glass panes are held spaced apart, having a number of peripheral channel members and a number of corner members equal to the number of channel members forming the frame, the corner members being adapted and properly dimensioned to anchoringly engage the channel members, each corner member connecting two channel members, the window unit defining an inner chamber between the glass panes and within the window frame, and the blind structure being disposed within the inner chamber and comprising:

a) a plurality of parallel and pivotable louvre elements;

b) reversible drive means having a drive shaft arranged parallel to and close to one of the peripheral channel elements of the window frame; and

(c) actuating means connecting the drive shaft of the drive means to the louvre elements in such a way that a reversible pivoting movement of the louvre elements is possible when the drive means are operated is effected; characterized in that the blind structure further comprises:

d) a rigid unitary alignment member for correctly and safely operatively positioning the drive shaft of the drive means relative to the actuating means, the alignment member being substantially L-shaped and having first and second legs integrally connected to one another, the second leg lying flat against the window frame, anchored thereto and disposed adjacent to the actuating means, and the first leg being disposed proximate to the drive means.

Preferably, the window frame additionally comprises an elongate channel-shaped support element spaced from and substantially parallel to one of the peripheral channel elements of the window frame, the drive means resting on the channel-shaped support element and the first leg of the alignment element being anchored thereto. The channel-shaped support element can have a receiving end into which the alignment element engages. The blind structure may also include an alignment sleeve, the alignment member having first and second legs and a bore through the second leg, the receiving end of the channel-shaped support member receiving the first leg of the alignment member, the second leg abutting and firmly anchoring the actuating means and receiving the alignment sleeve in a fixing manner through the bore, the drive shaft being axially inserted into, retained in, correctly aligned with and free to rotate axially within the alignment sleeve.

Preferably, each of the louvre elements defines a pivot axis, two ends and at least one integral pivot shaft coaxial with its pivot axis and arranged at one end of the louvre element, wherein the actuating means comprise at least one rail element firmly anchored to the window frame and an associated actuating rod which is linearly movable along the rail element, wherein the actuating rod has a plurality of spaced-apart transverse openings into which the pivot shafts of the louvre elements engage, and has support means for transmitting a simultaneous pivoting movement to the pivot shafts when the actuating rod is in linear movement, wherein the second leg of the alignment element abuts the rail element without hindering the linear movement of the actuating rod, and wherein the drive shaft transmits a linear displacement to the actuating rod by its rotation.

The blind structure may comprise a locking sleeve which axially and firmly engages the drive shaft and which slides against the alignment sleeve to fix the latter to the second leg of the alignment element. The peripheral elements and the channel-shaped support element may have an equal and constant cross-section.

The invention further relates to a method of assembling a blind structure within a double glazed window unit, the window unit comprising two glass panes, a number of peripheral elongate channel elements and an equal number of corner elements, the blind structure comprising a plurality of louvre elements with pivot shafts, an elongate channel-shaped support element, a drive shaft, drive means, actuating means, an alignment element with a first and a second leg and a bore through the second leg, and an alignment sleeve, the method comprising the steps of: a) securing the actuating means along at least one of the peripheral channel elements; b) pivotally engaging the actuating means with the pivot shafts of the louvre elements; c) applying and securing the second leg of the alignment element to the actuating means; d) engaging the drive shaft with the actuating means through the bore in the second leg of the alignment element; e) axially engaging the alignment sleeve around the drive shaft; f) securing the alignment sleeve in the bore in the second leg of the alignment element so as to axially position the drive shaft relative to the alignment element and the actuating means; g) engaging and securing the first leg of the alignment element with the channel-shaped support element; h) connecting the drive means to the drive shaft; and i) securing the drive means to the channel-shaped support member.

In the course of this method, the blind structure may comprise a blocking sleeve, so that the method further comprises the following steps, which are inserted sequentially between steps f) and g):

fa) Engaging the locking sleeve around the drive shaft;

fb) placing the sleeve on the alignment sleeve; and

fc) secure connection of the sleeve to the drive shaft.

Short description of the drawings

In the attached drawings shows:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a sealed window unit with a louvre structure according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the area of Fig. 1 circumscribed by line 2;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section through two slat elements, showing their mutual pivoting relationship;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the frame structure of the double glazed window unit; and

Fig. 8 is a partial, perspective exploded view of the actuating rod and the freewheels of the invention on an enlarged scale.

Detailed description of the designs

Fig. 1 shows a double-glazed window unit 10 into which a blind structure 12 is integrated.

The window unit 10 comprises two spaced apart glass panes 14, 16 (Figs. 3 and 4) and a rectangular window frame 18 (Figs. 1 and 7). Figs. 1 and 7 show that the window frame 18 has four elongated peripheral channel members 20 (20a to 20b) connected in alternating order by four L-shaped corner members 22 which slidably engage the inner channels 24 of the peripheral channel members 20. The corner members 22 each define a pair of legs 26 which are integrally secured to a support plate 28 which is wider than the legs 26. In this way, the legs 26 engage the receiving inner channels 24 of the channel elements 20 with the latter abutting the abutment plate 28 to create a continuous, closed window frame 18. The frame 18 spaces the glass panes 14, 16 which are attached to it in parallel to one another, as is known in the art. In this way, an inner chamber is defined by the area delimited by the window frame 18 and the glass panes 14, 16.

Figure 3 shows that the cross-section of each peripheral channel element includes a pair of longitudinal and outwardly extending webs 30, each having an upwardly directed edge 32 and a downwardly and inwardly extending lip 34. The upper edge 32 has longitudinal grooves on its inner surface 36, as does the peripheral channel element 20 at reference numeral 38 on its two outer narrow sides, the grooved surfaces 36, 38 facing each other.

Fig. 1 shows that the blind structure 12 is disposed within the inner chamber of the window unit 10 and comprises a plurality of known blind or louvre elements 40 which are evenly spaced and arranged horizontally. As shown in Fig. 6, the Louvre elements 40 can pivot from a first, substantially vertical position (solid lines) in which they slightly overlap one another to form a substantially uniform vertical surface that can almost completely block the light flowing through the window, to a second, substantially horizontal position (dashed line) in which the light can almost completely shine through the window unit 10. Each louvre element 40 preferably has small, edge-connectable abutment elements 42 on its upper and lower edges, which can respectively hook with the abutment elements 42 of the upper and lower adjacent louvre elements 40 to better overlap the louvre elements 40. Each louvre element 40 has a first and a second end and at least one pivot shaft (not shown) at its first end, which is aligned coaxially with its pivot axis. In the case of horizontal louvre elements, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the louvre elements 40 also have a second pivot shaft at their second end which is axially aligned with the first pivot shaft.

Fig. 3 shows that the blind structure 12 further comprises a channel member 44 which is similar or almost identical to the peripheral channel members 20. In fact, the cross-section of the channel-shaped support members 44 defines a pair of longitudinally directed outwardly extending webs 46 each having upwardly directed edges 48 having grooves on their inner surfaces 50 which are opposite the grooved outer narrow sides 52 of the channel-shaped support member 44, and a downwardly directed and inwardly oriented lip 54. An inner channel 56 is disposed within the channel-shaped support member 44. The reason for the identical cross-sections is that both the channel-shaped support element 44 and the peripheral channel elements 20 are manufactured in exactly the same way, but each cut to a possibly different desired length. This allows the manufacturing costs to be reduced considerably, since only a single, rather than two different, designs are required for two different parts of the window-blind assembly.

The channel-shaped support member 44 spans the entire width of the inner chamber of the window unit 10 and is arranged parallel and spaced adjacent the upper peripheral channel member 20a of the window frame 18. An elongated strip 57, as shown in Fig. 3, is engaged with the lips 54 of the channel-shaped support member 44 and has a short elongated, centrally downwardly directed flange 59. The uppermost louvre member 40 abuts against the flange 59 and overlaps it to a small extent.

Figs. 1 to 5 and 7 and 8 show that the blind structure 12 finally has drive means 58, actuating means 60 and alignment means 62.

The drive means 58 is preferably a small switchable electric motor 63 which is connected to a power source (not shown) via a connecting cable 64. The drive means 58 can be activated by means of a remote control or a switch.

The drive means 58 further comprise a short output shaft 66 which is driven by the electric motor 63. The shaft 66 is inserted into the complementary coaxial bore 68 at the first end 70a of a drive shaft 70 and is securely fixed by means of a pair of adjusting screws 72, 72 attached thereto so that the shafts 60, 70 perform the same rotary movement as that caused by the motor 63. The drive shaft 70 has a second end 70b which is opposite to the first end 70a.

The motor 63 is attached to a bracket 74, which rests on the channel-shaped support element 44 and is attached thereto by means of screws 76, so that the motor 63 is held securely above the channel-shaped support element 44.

The actuating means 60 comprise a known system described in the '040 patent as the prior art underlying the invention. A track member 78a, 78b (Fig. 7) is fixedly connected to each of the lateral peripheral channel members 20c, 20d. Thus, the track members 78a, 78b define projecting outer edges 79 (Fig. 4) adapted for snap-fit engagement with the lips 34. The track members 78a, 78b span the entire height of the inner chamber of the window unit 10 and have a shoulder 80a, 80b (Fig. 7) on which the channel-shaped support member 74 rests, the latter being thus supported at both ends.

Each rail element 78a, 78b, e.g. the rail element 78a shown in Figures 4 and 5, has a pair of rails 82 defining a flat surface 83 against which a plurality of freewheels 84 tangentially bear.

The actuating means 60 further comprise an actuating rod 88 which is arranged in a rail element, namely rail element 78a, and is movable between the rails 82, being almost as long as the rail element 78a and disposed between the peripheral channel member 20d and a cover plate 89 (Fig. 3). The actuating rod 88 has on its edges on both sides a plurality of spaced-apart openings 90 (Fig. 8) which are of the correct size and adapted to receive radial grooves 91 cut in the freewheel gears 84, the thickness of the actuating rod 88 being equal to or slightly less than the width of the radial grooves 91 so that the actuating rod 88 is held in the grooves 91 of the freewheel gears 84.

In operation, the freewheels 84 are arranged between the rails 82 and the actuating rod 88, in which they engage in a rolling manner, and can guide the movement of the actuating rod 88 along the rail element 78a in upward or downward linear displacement.

5 and 8 show that the actuating rod 88 has a plurality of equidistantly arranged transverse openings 92 in its central portion. One such transverse opening 92 is associated with each of the louvre elements 40. Support means connect the openings 92 to the louvre elements 40 to transmit a pivoting movement to the louvre elements 40 when the actuating rod performs a rectilinear movement. The support means may, as shown in Fig. 5, be an integral rack 94 cut out in each opening 92 and engaging a complementary gear 96 integrally and coaxially attached to the first pivot shaft of an associated louvre element 40. In this way, the rack 94 transmits a rotary movement to the wheel 96 and consequently pivots the louvre elements 40 when the actuating rod 88 undergoes a rectilinear displacement. The length of the opening 92 (and the Rack 94) is properly sized to allow the louvre members to pivot from their first vertical position to their second horizontal position. The louvre members 40 are further supported at their second end by their second pivot shaft which pivotally engages a support member (not shown) provided in the rail member 78b.

The actuating rod 88 also has at its upper end an elongated hole 98 arranged in the direction of its width (Fig. 5).

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the alignment means 62 comprise an alignment element 100, an alignment sleeve 102 and a blocking sleeve 104.

The alignment member 100 is a generally flat, L-shaped plate having first and second legs 106 and 108, respectively (Fig. 7). The first leg 106 is dimensioned to engage a channel 56 at the receiving end 110 of the channel-shaped support member 44 and to be secured thereto by the screws 76 used to secure the motor mount 74 by passing through the upper surface of the channel member 44 and the first leg 106. The second leg 108 is fixedly anchored to the rail member 78a (e.g., by screws 111) and has a threaded bore into which the alignment sleeve 102 is threadably engaged. The drive shaft 70 engages in the axial direction in the region of its second end 70b in the alignment sleeve 102 and can rotate freely in it, although only a small or no radial displacement is possible. The drive shaft 70 has a radial flange 112 at its second end 70b, which rests against a corresponding shoulder 114 of the alignment sleeve 102 (Fig. 4). The blocking sleeve 104 rests axially on the alignment sleeve 102 and is fastened thereto by means of an adjusting screw 116 in order to prevent the alignment sleeve 102 from unscrewing from the alignment element 100.

The end of the drive shaft 70 on the side remote from the motor 63 is flat and has a short, eccentrically arranged rotatable projection 118. The projection 118 engages in the elongated hole 98 of the actuating rod 88.

The drive shaft 70 is thus securely held by the alignment means 62, since the latter do not move and represent a secure support. The alignment element 100 and the alignment sleeve 102 prevent any radial displacement of the drive shaft 70, while the abutment of the sleeve 104 on the alignment sleeve 102 and the abutment of the radial flange 112 on the shoulder 114 prevent any axial displacement of the drive shaft 70. Therefore, the drive shaft 70 cannot move in any direction other than axial rotation. Since the actuating rod 88 cannot perform any undesirable movement due to its guidance in the rail element 78a, the moving parts of the blind structure 12 are unlikely to leave the range of the positions intended for them.

An important advantage of the invention is that the alignment means 62 prevent radial movement of the drive shaft 70. It is important that the drive shaft 70 remains aligned at all times because after the window unit 10 has been sealed and installed in a wall, repairing a faulty blind structure can become a difficult and expensive undertaking. It is therefore very important to correctly , since these parts are particularly susceptible to damage. For this reason, the drive shaft 70 is aligned by means of the alignment means 62, which are relatively robust and precise.

The fit between the alignment sleeve 102 and the drive shaft 70 will likely not be perfect, i.e., there will be a small amount of radial play between the two. However, since the shaft 70 is not intended to assume high rotational speeds or to accommodate high torques, the play will not significantly affect the movement of the shaft 70.

When the motor 63 is operating, the drive shaft 70 rotates due to the mediation of the output shaft 66, and the projection 118 rotates about the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 70. The projection 118 can freely roll or slide laterally in the slot 98, while its upward or downward movement transmits an equal displacement to the actuating rod 88. Therefore, when the drive shaft 70 rotates, the actuating rod 88 moves upward or downward and consequently pivots the louvre elements 40.

Since there are no moving parts other than the moving parts within the inner chamber of the window unit 10, the window can be completely sealed. A suitable sealing material 120 (Figs. 3 to 5) is used around the entire window unit 10, as is known in the art, being arranged over the peripheral channel elements 20. It is enclosed between the teeth 36, 38 of the upstanding edge 32 and the narrow side of the peripheral channel elements 20 so that after drying it is held in place by the teeth and thus the window unit 10 seals airtight.

In order to assemble the blind structure 12 within the window unit 10, a precise sequence of steps must be followed. The assembly of the blind structure must be carried out while the window unit itself is not yet assembled. The process generally includes the following steps:

a) securing the actuating means along at least one of the peripheral channel elements;

b) pivotable engagement of the actuating means with the pivot shafts of the slat elements;

c) placing the second leg of the alignment element on the actuating means and fastening it to them;

d) engaging the drive shaft with the actuating means through the bore in the second leg of the alignment element;

e) axial engagement of the alignment sleeve around the drive shaft;

f) securing the alignment sleeve in the bore in the second leg of the alignment element so as to position the drive shaft axially relative to the alignment element and to the actuating means;

g) engaging the first leg of the alignment element in the channel-shaped support element and fastening it thereto;

h) connecting the drive means to the drive shaft; and

a) Fastening the drive means to the channel-shaped support element.

Preferably, the following step is inserted between steps f) and g): engaging the locking sleeve around the drive shaft, applying the sleeve to the alignment sleeve and securely connecting the sleeve to the drive shaft.

It will be understood that although a conventional rectangular window unit is disclosed, any other shape may be suitable. For example, a hexagonal window unit may be used, the window frame then having six peripheral channel members and an equal number of corner members which are not L-shaped but obtuse-angled. In this case, two interconnected operating rods would have to be provided, one supporting the other as the drive shaft moves, and the radius of the gear or the pitch of the gear and rack on the supported operating rod would have to be varied to compensate for the difference in displacement resulting from the angle between the two operating rods.

In addition, it is possible to provide non-parallel window panes by forming the sides of the channel elements to which the panes are attached with the desired angle.

Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention to provide vertical louvre elements which only require a single support shaft at their upper end, since the louvre elements maintain their vertical position due to their own weight which pulls them downwards. The operating rod would of course be arranged horizontally in the upper region of the inner chamber of the window unit 10.

The actuating means can also be designed differently than described above. For example, a long actuating rod can be used instead of the actuating rod and short metal rods eccentrically connected to the operating rod can be used instead of the rack and pinion arrangement.

Claims (9)

1. Combination of a blind structure (12) and a multi-glazed window unit (10), the window unit comprising: a) two spaced-apart glass panes (14,16); and b) a window frame (18) by which the glass panes are held spaced apart, having a number of peripheral channel elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and a number of corner elements corresponding to the number of channel elements forming the frame, the corner elements being adapted and properly dimensioned to anchoringly engage the channel elements, each corner element connecting two channel elements, wherein the window unit (10) defines an inner chamber between the glass panes and within the window frame and wherein the blind structure is arranged within the inner chamber and comprises: a) a plurality of parallel and pivotable lamella elements (40); b) switchable drive means (58) with a drive shaft (70) arranged parallel to and close to one of the peripheral channel elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) of the window frame; and c) actuating means (60) which connect the drive shaft of the drive means to the slat elements in such a way that a reversible pivoting movement of the slat elements is effected when the drive means are operated; characterized in that the blind structure further comprises: d) a rigid unitary alignment member (100) for correctly and safely operatively positioning the drive shaft of the drive means relative to the actuating means, the alignment member being substantially L-shaped and having first and second legs (106,108) integrally connected to one another, the second leg (108) lying flat against the window frame, anchored thereto and arranged adjacent to the actuating means, and the first leg being arranged proximate to the drive means. 2. Combination according to claim 1, wherein the window frame (18) additionally comprises an elongate channel-shaped support element (44) which is arranged spaced from and substantially parallel to one of the peripheral channel elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) of the window frame, wherein the drive means (58) rests on the channel-shaped support element (44) and wherein the first leg (106) of the alignment element is anchored thereto. 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the channel-shaped support member (44) defines a receiving end (110) into which the first leg (106) of the alignment member can engage. 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the blind structure (12) includes an alignment sleeve (102) and the alignment member (100) defines a bore through the second leg, the receiving end (110) of the channel-shaped support member (44) receiving the first leg (106) of the alignment member, the second leg (108) abutting and anchoring the actuating means (60) and receiving the alignment sleeve (102) in a retaining manner through the bore, the drive shaft (70) being axially inserted into, retained in, and correctly aligned with the alignment sleeve (102) and free to rotate axially therein. 5. Combination according to claim 4, wherein each of the louvre elements (40) defines a pivot axis, two ends and at least one integral pivot shaft which is coaxial with its pivot axis and arranged at one end of the louvre element, wherein the actuating means (60) comprises at least one rail element (78a) which is firmly anchored to the window frame (18) and an associated actuating rod (88) which is linearly movable along the rail element (78a), wherein the actuating rod has a plurality of spaced-apart transverse openings (92) into which the pivot shafts of the louvre elements engage, and has support means for transmitting a simultaneous pivoting movement to the pivot shafts when the actuating rod is in linear movement, wherein the second leg (108) of the alignment element rests on the rail element (78a) without hindering the linear movement of the actuating rod (88), and wherein the drive shaft (70) transmits a linear displacement to the actuating rod by its rotation. 6. Combination according to claim 5, wherein the blind structure (12) has a blocking sleeve (104) which axially and firmly surrounds the drive shaft (70) and which slidably abuts the alignment sleeve (102) in order to fasten the latter to the second leg (108) of the alignment element. 7. Combination according to claim 2, wherein the peripheral elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and the channel-shaped support element (44) have an equal and constant cross-section. 8. A method of assembling a blind structure (12) within a double glazed window unit (10), the window unit comprising two glass panes (14, 16), a number of peripheral elongated channel elements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and an equal number of corner elements (22), the blind structure comprising a plurality of louvre elements (40) with pivot shafts, an elongated channel-shaped support element (44), a drive shaft (70), drive means (58), actuating means (60), an alignment element (100) with a first and a second leg (106,108) and a bore through the second leg (108), and an alignment sleeve (102), the method comprising the following steps: a) securing the actuating means (60) along at least one of the peripheral channel elements (20d); b) pivotally engaging the actuating means (60) with the pivot shafts of the slat elements; c) placing the second leg (108) of the alignment element on the actuating means and fastening it to them; d) engaging the drive shaft (70) with the actuating means (60) through the bore in the second leg (108) of the alignment element; e) axially engaging the alignment sleeve (102) around the drive shaft (70); f) securing the alignment sleeve (102) in the bore in the second leg of the alignment element so as to position the drive shaft (70) axially relative to the alignment element (100) and to the actuating means (60); g) engaging the first leg (106) of the alignment element in the channel-shaped support element (44) and securing it thereto; h) connecting the drive means (58) to the drive shaft (70); and i) Fastening the drive means (58) to the channel-shaped support element (44). 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the blind structure (12) has a blocking sleeve (104) and wherein the method further comprises the following steps, which are inserted sequentially between steps f) and g): fa) engaging the blocking sleeve (104) around the drive shaft (70); fb) placing the sleeve (104) on the alignment sleeve (102); and fc) secure connection of the sleeve (104) to the drive shaft (70).